Torn

Part 18

The car ride to Stevie's was spent in silence. Dave asked if she wanted to leave by herself before getting in, she said, no. Still, he felt that she needed a moment, so he kept his mouth shut, alternating between gently stroking her hair and pressing small kisses to it. He wasn't sure if that was normal, what happened with Lindsey, he'd just never been a part of anything like that and he wondered if it had affected him more than her.

"Now that I know you're back safe, I'm just gonna go." Dave said, standing in the doorway.

Stevie's eyebrows creased, she reached for his hand and tugged at it to bring him inside. "I didn't say, I wanted you to, did I?"

"Well, no, but... I mean, it's fine if you want to be alone, I-"

She shook her head and rose to stand on her tiptoes, even with high heels on, and cupped his face in the palms of her hands. "There's no one else I'd rather be with right now." She kissed him. "The way you stood up for me... I don't think anyone else ever has." She kissed him again. "Except maybe for Christine." She added to lighten up the mood. 

"Only if you're sure?" Dave asked, he didn't want her to feel obliged to have him stay over.

"Of course, I am." Stevie assured, she drew back and took him by the hand. They walked to her relatively small liquor cabinet, where she reached for an undoubtedly expensive bottle of red wine. 

"I'll open it." Dave took it from her and turned around.

"I think, you know your way around my house too well." Stevie said jokingly and heard him laughing. A sound she didn't think she'd ever get tired of hearing.

Stevie slumped down on the couch and bent forward to unzip her boots. She sighed, feeling great relief once her feet were bare. What a shitshow, she thought to herself. Everything was going fine, she knew, she shouldn't have walked away with Lindsey. And with his wife there? Through his actions, he showed that he didn't have much respect for either of the two women. Stevie was done feeling sorry for him. He had plenty of chances.

"Milady." 

Stevie turned at the sound of Dave's voice and thanked for an already filled up glass. She took a not so ladylike gulp and breathed out heavily, watching Dave as he walked around to sit down beside her. 

"You didn't have to do it, though."

"What?" Dave asked, unsure of what she was referring to.

"Come in between Lindsey and me." Stevie clarified, shifting over closer to him. "It's not like it was the first fight we've ever had. Besides, wasn't even the worst one."

"Well, what was I supposed to do? Sit back and watch?" Dave scoffed, bringing the glass up to his mouth, his other arm now wrapped around her. "The dude is an ass."

Stevie couldn't help but laugh, it wasn't a complete lie. "He has his moments." She shrugged. "Most of the time, when it's just us two, he can be really sweet, but... He doesn't get to play with me anymore and he's jealous. Threatened." She added. 

"Just so we're clear, I would never treat you like that." Dave promised.

"I know." Stevie nodded and pursed her lips for a kiss. "It's crazy how totally different you two are and yet, I-" 

"Yeah?" Dave hoped she'd continue.

"You're just different, that's all." She chose to say instead of what she really was thinking. 

"You don't have to answer, but I gotta ask." Dave paused, taking another sip. "Besides his immense talent, what do you see in him? You've loved that man almost your whole life. I- I just... I don't understand."

Stevie sighed, it was a fair question. "Honestly?" She shrugged. "We never got to be really apart. We didn't see much of each other only between Lindsey quitting the band in '87 and reuniting in the 90s, which was a terrible period in my life. I didn't have time to worry about him, I'd completely lost myself. Then he came back into my life, my mind was clear at last and he was just... I don't know, he seemed like he'd changed. I was pulled back right in. The kids and the marriage came, but he still wanted me, so I believed that he must still be in love with me. Years went by, I'd given up on finding someone else and having Lindsey by my side all the time... I'd convinced myself that it was how I wanted, needed it to be. That it was enough for me."

Dave remained silent for a minute, mulling her words over in his head. He took a sip for courage. "And is it still?"

Stevie gulped, she parted her lips to speak, nothing came out for what felt like a really long time. She shook her head at last. "I don't think it is."